Teddy Bear Tea Party

Lately my girls and I have been obsessed with tea parties. 

It started with Lil Miss getting into Gigi's fancy tea party set one day while the kids were at school. 

Since then we have been having impromptu tea parties while the kids are away.

Sometimes we eat our lunch on the living room floor on a blanket with a spot of tea (or apple juice). 

When one of Gigi's tea cups got broken I felt awful and thought I needed to stop

letting Lil Miss play with her set. 

I stopped by our local Goodwill instead and picked up mismatch tea cups, saucers, and teapots in all kinds of patterns for Lil Miss to play with to her heart's content.   

She thought it was the coolest thing ever. 

She watched me wash all the items when we got home and couldn't wait to play!  

 This weekend while we were camping I secretly packed the tea set for the girls to have a tea party.

They were so excited Saturday morning, to go play.

 

 

 

 I also brought along some of the dresses I've made for my Etsy store "ruffled orchid" to

take some photos. 

www.etsy.com/stop/ruffledorchid

Lil Miss didn't want to interrupt her tea party, but Gigi was a super model for the morning.

Some of these fall dresses will be up in my store soon!

 {Seriously, this girl gives me the best poses... she's a natural}

 

I love time alone with my girl's. 

The boy's wouldn't have enjoyed the "girlyness" of it all!

I am so thankful for the little things..... like tea parties!!!

The Perfect Fall Wedding

 

We spent the past weekend celebrating my niece's wedding.

It seems so surreal to say she's married.  Yikes. 

Makes me feel old.

 The wedding was held in Cincinnati at Ault Park Pavilion and the ceremony couldn't have been more beautiful.  The weather held off until they said their "I Dos" and then the clouds opened up and poured while we sat under the lights and tents celebrating at the reception. 

The rain didn't put a damper on any of the festivities.   

{Pastor Stacy and My Mom  aka. grandmother of the bride} 

My niece, Brooke put together all the flower arrangements, bouquets and boutonnieres. 

They were beautiful.  

 Brooke was a beautiful bride.   

 

{grandmothers of the bride}

{the uncles... they look like trouble} 

I was so glad my sister, Beth, didn't miss the wedding. 

Being 8 1/2 months pregnant, we didn't know if baby "Cletus" was going to let her attend

but they made it!  

A rare night out with just us as a couple. 

It was kind of nice to eat dinner and only have to cut up Nate's food and not 4 little ones. 

Just kidding...  

 

{inside the pavilion where the reception took place} 

 The junior bridesmaid was my other niece Faith. 

She is a frilly girly girl like my girls, but she looked beautiful with her hair

all done up and in a beautiful dress Brooke made. 

Faith and I made it most of the night classy until we both slipped our shoes off and went bare feet. 

We both agree that running in the rain bare foot is underappreciated!   

{my mom and us sisters}

 

{Mother of the Bride and her sister and mother}

 

{my big brother making the toast}

{Mr. and Mrs. Schwass}

 {The bride and I} 

 Uncle Nate was so proud of his little Brookey....he showed it in lots of little ways throughout the day.  LOL  When Nate and I started dating, Brooke was very little.  Jacob, my nephew, wasn't even a year old.  We felt like her second parents when we both went to Ohio State University and were at there house at least once a week.  We went pumpkin picking, apple picking, took her to Chuck E. Cheese (but she doesn't remember), took her trick or treating, and shared so many memories with her growing up. 

Our hearts are overfilled with joy to see her so happy. 

 {the first dance}

 Brad spent time planting little succulents for all the guests to take home.   

 

 I loved this idea!!!

We have lots of good memories of Brooke and Brad's wedding. 

It was fun! 

Congratulations you two!!

Falling for Fall

Fall is Here! 

I know because the pumpkins and caramel apples are out at the stores.

(it is hard to resist a good caramel apple!)

Fall means wonderful comfort food in the Schulte household.

{White Chicken Chili}

{Chicken Pot Pie and Apple Crisp}

The last time we were home in Ohio, Grandma and Grandpa Schulte gave us a whole bunch of apples so we have been in heaven with lots of apple desserts.

{apple nachos... messy but oh so good!}

We had so many apples and no one needs dessert every night, so I found a recipe for freezing apple pie filling so it is ready to go in the crust and bake whenever you need it.  I will let you know how this works out.  I did this after I had a few more desserts made!  

{pumpkin white chocolate no bake cookies and apple pie cupcakes... YUM!}

Fall also means getting ready for Halloween. 

The kids have all picked out what they want to be this year and mommy

is busy sewing away on 3 of the 4 outfits. 

This year we have  Snow White, a peacock, a butterfly, and a ninja. 

(I purchased the ninja outfit on-line cause I can't really make that cutesy in my own way)

 Lil Miss is in love with her Snow White dress. 

When she puts it on she just twirls and twirls. 

I think this is the cutest thing I have made yet!

The peacock and butterfly are coming along too.

Here are the makings of felt peacock feathers I am going to

add to a glittery dress and a peacock mask.  

Gigi approves.  

September means school picture day. 

The kids all looked beautiful and "dapper" on picture day this year.

We are well into the school year so the homework is at full steam.

Every night, we try to get our reading time in with all of the kids.  I am

amazed out how much they have improved. 

Bubba even shocks himself when he can read a whole page of his

Captain Underpants book without stumbling over a word. 

Such a proud mama!!

Rosie is currently reading Anne of Green Gables and I couldn't be happier.

It was one of my favorite books at her age.  I still have the VCR tapes of the movie and after reading a few chapters, her and I watch a portion of the movie.  She has learned all about puffed sleeves, gingham fabric, carpet bags, and what a "gable" is.

She is enamored that Anne (with an E) always has her auburn hair braided and that the girls of that time always wore dresses. 

One of my favorite quotes is by the author Lucy Maud Montgomery

"I love books.  I hope when I grow up to be able to have lots of them."

 Other things we have been doing this fall is hanging out with friends. 

The girls had friends over on Saturday. 

I caught these two just sitting here chit chatting. 

{girls and their dolls} 

Of course I have been crafting as well lately. 

When we had a flat tire a couple weeks ago, the kids had picked up some paracord to make some bracelets.  Nate had been looking for the material to make these all summer. 

So in the past week I have been making a lot of these for the kids and everyone of their friends it seems like!

We've had a few moments to paint and make some new artwork for mommy's walls.

 The sewing machine has gotten a workout lately too. 

Besides the Halloween costumes, I have been finishing lots of projects I have started and been putting some of my fabric stash to good use. 

I made these two little dresses last week and sent them off to two of my favorite little girls.  

My creative mind has been going wild!!  

 I will post more of sewing projects soon when I get time to photograph them. 

Just need a few more hours in the day to get all I want to done!